Cardinals ***OFFICIAL*** 2013 STL Cardinals Thread - Page 88

**BigRedChief** · 08:16 PM

From Bernie's column:

People have asked me why we’re not more emotional,” Matheny said in his office after Sunday’s game. “They say that we look subdued, always intense. That our actions are methodical, robotic at times. That’s what got us here. This isn’t the time to change it.”

It’s hard to argue with the manager’s assessment. The Cardinals finished with 97 victories, most by a Cards team since 2005, and tied with Boston for No. 1 in the majors this year.

Their 54-27 showing at Busch Stadium matches the 1985 team for the best single-season home winning percentage (.667) by the Cardinals since 1944.

A postseason theme has emerged, and it echoes the mantra that surfaced before the start of 2013: remember the fall of 2012. Remember falling to San Francisco in the NLCS.

The Cardinals’ veterans still haven’t forgotten. They still aren’t over it. It’s why Matheny resists GM John Mozeliak’s urgings to smile and put on a happier face.

Here's the most impressive aspect of the Cardinals' division championship: they prevailed over two other outstanding teams, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati.

The 97-win Cardinals were better this year (regular season) than they were in 2011, when they won 90 games, and 2012, when they won 88.
Here are a few numbers that help put the Cardinals' Central title and No. 1 NL seed in perspective:

* Since MLB switched to a three-division format in each league in 1994, this was only the sixth time that a division had three 90-plus win teams. St. Louis won 97, Pittsburgh 94, and Cincinnati 90.
* Since the format change, this was only the second time that an NL division had three 90-win teams. In 2002 the NL West had Arizona (98 wins), San Francisco (95) and Los Angeles (92).
* The 2013 Cardinals faced more esteemed and difficult competition at the top of the division than any of the division-winning teams managed by Tony La Russa.

The Pirates were hardly pushovers; the Cardinals had to work like mad and kick in with a strong finish to put the division away, and didn't clinch until Game No. 160.

The Cardinals went 9-10 against Pittsburgh this season and were 11-8 vs. Cincinnati.

The Cardinals won only three of 10 games at PNC Park in Pittsburgh and split the 10 games at Cincinnati. The Cardinals were 6-3 against both teams at Busch Stadium.

The Cardinals (1st), Pirates (3rd) and Reds (5th) ranked among the top five in wins in the NL. The three teams were among the top 11 in wins in MLB. All three teams finished in the top five in the majors for best overall ERA, and each were in the top five MLB for best starting-pitching ERA.

The original purpose to this piece was to point out that the Cardinals managed to finish with the league's best record while competing in a division that had three 90-win teams for only the second time in the last 19 years of National League baseball.

The Cardinals really earned this.
Thanks for reading ...
— Bernie

'Hamas' Jenkins · 06-05-2013, 07:54 PM

Holliday cruises the outfield with the grace of a two legged goat.

Frazod · 06-05-2013, 08:03 PM

Sure would be nice to get some ****ing runs here.

**BigRedChief** · 06-05-2013, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Tomorrow is the game where you can retaliate. Say you get another trigger happy dickhead like the 1B umpire last week. Then you get your emergency starter tossed after the bullpen has been exhausted from a 14 inning game.

If they want to dome Goldschmidt tomorrow I'm all for it.

It has to be done. The same player 3 times on "accident". If you don't retaliate, pitchers will just come inside more.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 06-05-2013, 08:06 PM

The reckoning will carry the same message if done tomorrow.

Frazod · 06-05-2013, 08:06 PM

There we go.

**BigRedChief** · 06-05-2013, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

The reckoning will carry the same message if done tomorrow.

oh I agree. I just don't think throwing up and in on their hottest batter = even steven like the Cardinals broadcasters were saying.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 06-05-2013, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

oh I agree. I just don't think throwing up and in on their hottest batter = even steven like the Cardinals broadcasters were saying.

If I'm Shelby I'm getting my pound of flesh for Carpenter, don't worry. Of course, they could have kept Marte up and told him to aim at Goldschmidt's throat, he'd probably paint the outside corner each time.

**BigRedChief** · 06-05-2013, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

If I'm Shelby I'm getting my pound of flesh for Carpenter, don't worry. Of course, they could have kept Marte up and told him to aim at Goldschmidt's throat, he'd probably paint the outside corner each time.

If bases are empty in his first at bat, put a 95mph fastball in his ribs. Take the warning from the umps, they won't throw him out. It's baseball etiquette. The Dbacks won't retaliate.

Pepe Silvia · 06-05-2013, 08:27 PM

Surely they can get to Miley sooner or later?

'Hamas' Jenkins · 06-05-2013, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PackerinMo

Surely they can get to Miley sooner or later?

Soft-tossing lefty? I dunno.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 06-05-2013, 08:33 PM

Kelly's stuff wasn't great, but he was excellent given his role. That really helped the team.

Frazod · 06-05-2013, 08:34 PM

The Archie Campbell dude in that Vinson commercial cracks me up.

**BigRedChief** · 06-05-2013, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Kelly's stuff wasn't great, but he was excellent given his role. That really helped the team.

It wasn't looking good those first couple of innings. It may have been a situation where you would have had to leave him in and take the beating

Frazod · 06-05-2013, 08:38 PM

Nice catch, dickhead

'Hamas' Jenkins · 06-05-2013, 08:38 PM

Scroate chokes for the second straight appearance and Holliday proves his essential worthlessness yet again.

01-25-2013, 05:27 PM
BigRedChief Has a particular set of skills Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: On the water Casino cash: $3179627 VARSITY	*OFFICIAL* 2013 STL Cardinals Thread From Bernie's column: People have asked me why we’re not more emotional,” Matheny said in his office after Sunday’s game. “They say that we look subdued, always intense. That our actions are methodical, robotic at times. That’s what got us here. This isn’t the time to change it.” It’s hard to argue with the manager’s assessment. The Cardinals finished with 97 victories, most by a Cards team since 2005, and tied with Boston for No. 1 in the majors this year. Their 54-27 showing at Busch Stadium matches the 1985 team for the best single-season home winning percentage (.667) by the Cardinals since 1944. A postseason theme has emerged, and it echoes the mantra that surfaced before the start of 2013: remember the fall of 2012. Remember falling to San Francisco in the NLCS. The Cardinals’ veterans still haven’t forgotten. They still aren’t over it. It’s why Matheny resists GM John Mozeliak’s urgings to smile and put on a happier face. Here's the most impressive aspect of the Cardinals' division championship: they prevailed over two other outstanding teams, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. The 97-win Cardinals were better this year (regular season) than they were in 2011, when they won 90 games, and 2012, when they won 88. Here are a few numbers that help put the Cardinals' Central title and No. 1 NL seed in perspective: * Since MLB switched to a three-division format in each league in 1994, this was only the sixth time that a division had three 90-plus win teams. St. Louis won 97, Pittsburgh 94, and Cincinnati 90. * Since the format change, this was only the second time that an NL division had three 90-win teams. In 2002 the NL West had Arizona (98 wins), San Francisco (95) and Los Angeles (92). * The 2013 Cardinals faced more esteemed and difficult competition at the top of the division than any of the division-winning teams managed by Tony La Russa. The Pirates were hardly pushovers; the Cardinals had to work like mad and kick in with a strong finish to put the division away, and didn't clinch until Game No. 160. The Cardinals went 9-10 against Pittsburgh this season and were 11-8 vs. Cincinnati. The Cardinals won only three of 10 games at PNC Park in Pittsburgh and split the 10 games at Cincinnati. The Cardinals were 6-3 against both teams at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals (1st), Pirates (3rd) and Reds (5th) ranked among the top five in wins in the NL. The three teams were among the top 11 in wins in MLB. All three teams finished in the top five in the majors for best overall ERA, and each were in the top five MLB for best starting-pitching ERA. The original purpose to this piece was to point out that the Cardinals managed to finish with the league's best record while competing in a division that had three 90-win teams for only the second time in the last 19 years of National League baseball. The Cardinals really earned this. Thanks for reading ... — Bernie Last edited by BigRedChief; 10-02-2013 at 08:16 PM..
Posts: 78,982

06-05-2013, 07:54 PM	#1306
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8009572	Holliday cruises the outfield with the grace of a two legged goat. __________________ "When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read 'all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics.' When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty – to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy.”--Abraham Lincoln
Posts: 74,825

06-05-2013, 08:03 PM	#1307
Frazod WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $3165085	Sure would be nice to get some ****ing runs here.
Posts: 119,484

06-05-2013, 08:06 PM	#1309
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8009572	The reckoning will carry the same message if done tomorrow. __________________ "When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read 'all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics.' When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty – to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy.”--Abraham Lincoln
Posts: 74,825

06-05-2013, 08:06 PM	#1310
Frazod WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $3165085	There we go.
Posts: 119,484

06-05-2013, 08:27 PM	#1314
Pepe Silvia MVP Join Date: Oct 2012 Casino cash: $1944664	Surely they can get to Miley sooner or later?
Posts: 16,556

06-05-2013, 08:33 PM	#1316
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8009572	Kelly's stuff wasn't great, but he was excellent given his role. That really helped the team. __________________ "When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read 'all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics.' When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty – to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy.”--Abraham Lincoln
Posts: 74,825

06-05-2013, 08:34 PM	#1317
Frazod WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $3165085	The Archie Campbell dude in that Vinson commercial cracks me up.
Posts: 119,484

06-05-2013, 08:38 PM	#1319
Frazod WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $3165085	Nice catch, dickhead
Posts: 119,484

06-05-2013, 08:38 PM	#1320
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8009572	Scroate chokes for the second straight appearance and Holliday proves his essential worthlessness yet again. __________________ "When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read 'all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics.' When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty – to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy.”--Abraham Lincoln
Posts: 74,825